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MANUAL  OF  FORMS 


FOR 


BAPTISM,  ADMISSION  TO  THE  COMMUNION, 
ADMINISTRATION  OF  THE  LORD'S  SUP- 
PER, MARRIAGE  AND  FUNERALS. 


CONFORMED  TO  THE 


gattrine  auto  discipline  of  %  f  nsbjterian  €\m\. 


BY 
ARCHIBALD  ALEXANDER '  HODGE,  D.D. 


PHILADELPHIA  : 

PRESBYTERIAN    BOARD  OF  PUBLICATION, 

1334  CHESTNUT  STREET. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1877,  tjr 

THE  TRUSTEES   OF  THE 

PRESBYTERIAN   BOARD   OF  PUBLICATION, 
In  the  Office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress,  at  Washington. 


Westcott  &  Thomsow, 
Stereotypere  and  Electrotypers,  Phila. 


PREFACE. 


Notwithstanding  the  fact  that  the  founders  of  all  the  sev- 
eral national  branches  of  the  Reformed  Church  prepared  and 
used  written  formularies  of  public  worship  (as,  e.  g.,  Calvin, 
Knox,  the  authors  of  the  Dutch  and  the  German  Reformed 
Liturgies,  and  in  the  next  century  Richard  Baxter),  the  ge- 
nius of  Scottish  and  American  Presbyterianism  has  discard- 
ed them  as  uncongenial,  and  the  matured  judgment  of  our 
Church  has  pronounced  them  to  be  inexpedient.  The  action 
of  our  recent  General  Assemblies  from  1873  to  1875  proves 
that  the  mind  of  the  Church  is  decidedly  averse  to  the  rec- 
ommendation by  authority  of  even  the  simplest  forms  for 
special  services.  With  this  jealous  care  for  the  freedom 
and  spirituality  of  the  Church  the  compiler  of  this  little 
manual  is  in  perfect  sympathy. 

Nevertheless,  accurate  verbal  preparation  is  felt  by  all  to  be 
necessary  for  the  edifying  performance  of  certain  special  ser- 
vices, as,  for  instance,  the  administration  of  Baptism  and  the 
Lord's  Supper,  the  admission  of  the  baptized  to  full  commu- 
nion, and  the  celebration  of  Marriage.  Any  approximation  to 
a  uniformity  of  method  in  these  particulars  which  can  be  se- 
cured without  the  sacrifice  of  freedom  and  adaptability  to 
varying  circumstances  will  be  generally  welcomed.* 

The  very  spirit  of  liberty,  which  opposes  the  authoritative 
recommendation  of  such  formulas  by  the  General  Assembly, 
will  approve  as  legitimate  such  offerings  to  the  brethren  as 
the  present,  made  by  private  persons,  and  thoroughly  conform- 

report  of  committee " t» consider  and  report,  if  oece8sary,a  for- 
mula for  recognition  of  members  admitted  to  church  privileges,"  to  (Jou- 
exal  Assembly  of  1S75. 

3 


4  PREFACE. 

ed  to  the  doctrinal  principles  of  the  "  Confession  of  Faith  "  and 
to  the  regulative  injunctions  of  the  "Directory  for  Worship." 

The  present  compiler,  having  drawn  his  materials  from 
various  sources,  offers  this  little  manual  to  his  brethren  as  a 
statement  of  the  true  principles  that  should  determine  the  form 
as  well  as  the  matter  of  these  services,  and  as  a  suggestive  ex- 
ample of  appropriate  forms,  as  well  as  a  handbook  convenient 
for  actual  use. 

He  wishes  emphatically  to  acknowledge  the  valuable  assist- 
ance and  encouragement  rendered  him  in  this  compilation  by 
the  Eev.  John  C.  Backus,  D.  D.,  of  Baltimore,  and  the  Eev. 
Arthur  T.  Pierson,  D.D.,  of  Detroit.  To  the  latter  especially 
he  is  indebted  for  criticisms  and  suggestions,  for  some  of  the 
very  best  material  incorporated  in  these  formularies,  and  for 
the  entire  "Order,"  marked  IV.,  for  the  admission  of  members 
to  full  communion,  as  alternative  to  "Orders"  II.  and  III.,  for 
the  separate  admission  of  baptized  members  to  full  communion 
and  for  the  baptism  of  adults. 

Personally,  he  believes  that  as  it  is  essential  to  maintain  the 
church  membership  from  the  beginning  of  ihose  who  are  bap- 
tized in  infancy,  so  it  is  important  to  make  visible  the  fact  that 
the  admission  to  full  communion  of  baptized  members  of  the 
Church  is  an  ordinance  different  in  meaning  and  effect  from 
the  baptism  of  adults  and  their  first  admission  from  the  world 
into  a  covenanted  relation  to  God.  As,  however,  many  of  his 
brethren  think  differently,  provision  is  made  for  the  practical 
exercise  of  both  methods  by  "Orders"  II.  and  III.  providing 
for  the  separate,  and  "  Order"  IV.  providing,  as  an  alternative, 
for  the  simultaneous,  admission  of  both  classes  of  candidates 
to  full  communion. 

It  will  be  noted  by  those  who  use  this  Manual  that  the 
formulas  intended  for  public  use  are  printed  in  large  type, 
and  generally  upon  the  right-hand  pages;  whilst  the  references 
to  the  Scriptures  and  the  Standards  of  the  Presbyterian  Church 
are  given  in  small  type,  upon  the  left-hand  pages. 

Allegheny  City,  Pa., 
Feb.  27, 1877. 


THZOLOGXOJU 
CONTENTS. 


PACK 

I.  Order  for  the  Baptism  of  Infants 7 

II.  Order  for  the  Admission  of  those  who  were 
Baptized  in  Infancy  to  Full  Communion....  15 

III.  Order  for  the  Baptism  of  Adults  and  their 

Admission  to  Full  Communion 19 

IV.  Order  (Alternative  to  Orders  II.  and  III.) 

for  the  Admission  of  Both  Classes  to  Full 
Communion  at  the  same  time 25 

V.  Order  for  the  Administration  of  the  Lord's 
Supper 31 

VI.  Order  for  the  Solemnization  of  Marriage..  43 

VII.  Selections  of  Scriptures  to  be  read  at  Fune- 
rals,  ADAPTED  TO    VARIOUS  OCCASIONS 50 

5 


STATEMENT    OF    PRINCIPLES. 


If  "  The  infants  of  one  or  both  believing  parents  are  to 
be  baptized."     Confession  of  Faith,  ch.  xxviii..  \  4. 


\  It  is  obvious  that  the  infants  of  such  parents  only  as 
make  a  credible  profession  of  being  true  believers  should 
be  baptized,  since  the  "  Directory  for  Worship  "  demands 
that  the  parent  enter  before  God  and  the  Church  into 
"an  express  engagement"  (General  Assembly  of  1794, 
Moore's  Digest,  p.  666)  "that  he  prays  with  and  for  the 
child ;  that  he  sets  an  example  of  piety  and  godliness 
before  it,"  etc.  If  other  than  presumptively  believing — 
i.  e.,  professing — parents  be  encouraged  to  enter  this  en- 
gagement, the  covenant  is  made  void  and  "  the  seal  set 
to  a  blank."    General  Synod  1735,  Moore's  Digest,  p.  665. 


If  When  children  are  removed  from  the  custody  of  their 
parents,  by  death  or  otherwise,  the  guardian  or  master 
who  has  undertaken  to  rear  them  may  present  them 
for  baptism,  provided  he  possess  the  qualification  requi- 
site for  having  his  own  children  baptized,  and  is  willing 
to  assume  the  obligation.    General  Assembly  1786. 


JT  pei 

I 

ORDER 

FOR  THE 

BAPTISM  OF  INFANTS. 


Our  heavenly  Father,  from  the  first  rev- 
elation of  his  purpose  of  grace  to  sinful  men 
made  to  our  first  mother  in  the  garden,  lias 
always  embraced  the  family,  and  not  the  in- 
dividual alone,  as  the  unit  with  which  his 
covenant  is  made  and  by  the  multiplication 
of  which  his  kingdom  is  composed.  All  his 
covenants  with  Adam,  Noah,  Abraham,  Lot 
and  David  include  the  children  with  their 
parents.  In  the  "gospel"  that  was  preached 
to  Abraham  four  hundred  and  thirty  years 
before  the  law  the  Lord  promised,  "  I  will 
establish  my  covenant  between  me  and  thee, 
and  thy  seed  after  thee,  in  their  generations, 
for  an  everlasting  covenant,  to  be  a  God  unto 
thee  and  to  thy  seed  after  thee."  "And  in 
thy  seed  shall  all  the  nations  of  the  earth  be 
blessed."     Gen.  xvii.  7;  xxii.  18. 

This  fundamental  law  of  the  kingdom  is 
declared  by  the  apostle  Peter,  in  his  great 


8  MANUAL    OF    FORMS. 

fl  "  Although  it  is  proper  that  baptism  be  administered 
in  the  presence  of  the  congregation,  yet  there  may  be 
cases  when  it  will  be  expedient  to  administer  this  ordi- 
nance in  private  houses  ;  of  which  the  minister  is  to  be 
the  judge."    Directory  for  Worship,  ch.  7,  \  5. 


\  "  The  efficacy  of  baptism  is  not  tied  to  that  moment 
of  time  wherein  it  is  administered ;  yet,  notwithstanding, 
by  the  right  use  of  this  sacrament  the  grace  promised  is 
not  only  offered,  but  really  exhibited  and  conferred  by 
the  Holy  Ghost,  to  such  (whether  of  age  or  infants)  as 
that  grace  belongeth  unto,  according  to  the  counsel  of 
God's  own  will,  in  his  appointed  time."  Confession  of 
Faith,  ch.  28,  I  6. 

\  "  Although  it  be  a  great  sin  to  contemn  or  neglect  this 
ordinance,  yet  grace  and  salvation  are  not  so  insepa- 
rably annexed  unto  it  as  that  none  can  be  regenerated 
or  saved  without  it ;  or  that  all  that  are  baptized  are  un- 
doubtedly regenerated."    Confession  of  Faith,  ch.  28,  \  5. 

\  "  It  is  the  deliberate  and  unanimous  opinion  of  the 
Assembly  that  those  who  renounce  the  fundamental 
doctrines  of  the  Trinity,  and  deny  that  Jesus  Christ  is 
the  same  in  substance,  equal  in  power  and  glory  with 
the  Father,  cannot  be  recognized  as  ministers  of  the 
gospel,  and  that  their  ministrations  (baptism,  etc)  are 
wholly  invalid."  General  Assembly  1814,  Moore's  Digest, 
p.  660. 


BAPTISM    OF    INFANTS.  !l 

sermons  on  the  day  of  Pentecost  and  imme- 
diately after,  to  remain  in  full  force  under 
the  gospel  dispensation  :  "  Ye  are  the  chil- 
dren of  the  prophets  and  of  the  covenant 
which  God  made  with  our  fathers,  Baying 
unto  Abraham,  And  in  thy  seed  shall  all  the 
kindreds  of  the  earth  be  blessed."  Acts  iii. 
25.  "  Repent  and  be  baptized,  every  one  of 
you,  in  the  name  of  Jesus  Christ,  for  the  re- 
mission of  sins,  and  ye  shall  receive  the  gift 
of  the  Holy  Ghost.  For  the  promise  is  unto 
you  and  to  your  children,  and  to  all  that  arc 
afar  off,  even  as  many  as  the  Lord  our  God 
shall  call."     Acts  ii.  38,  39. 

Hear  also  what  the  Lord  Jesus  says  [begin- 
ning at  the  fourteenth  verse  of  the  tenth  chap- 
ter of  the  Gospel  according  to  Mark]  of  the 
place  which  he  has  assigned  to  young  children 
in  his  kingdom  : 

"Suffer  the  little  children  to  come  unto 
me,  and  forbid  them  not ;  for  of  such  is  the 
kingdom  of  God.  Verily,  I  say  unto  you, 
Whosoever  shall  not  receive  the  kingdom  of 
God  as  a  little  child,  he  shall  not  enter  there- 
in. And  he  took  them  up  in  his  arms,  put  his 
hands  upon  them,  and  blessed  them." 

And  hear  also  how  the  apostles  of  our 


10  MANUAL   OF   FORMS. 

Lord,  in  every  recorded  case,  baptized  the 
households  of  those  who  professed  faith  in 
Christ  (Acts  xvi.  29-33)  :  "  The  jailer  called 
for  a  light  and  sprang  in,  and  came  trembling 
and  fell  down  before  Paul  and  Silas,  and  said, 
Sirs,  what  must  I  do  to  be  saved  ?  And 
they  said,  Believe  on  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
and  thou  shalt  be  saved,  and  thy  house.  And 
they  spake  unto  him  the  word  of  the  Lord, 
and  to  all  that  were  in  his  house,  and  the 
same  hour  of  the  night  was  baptized  he  and 
all  his  straightway."  And  we  are  taught 
that  they  baptized  in  like  manner  the  house- 
holds of  Stephanas,  of  Lydia,  of  Crispus  and 
of  Cornelius. 

Thus  we  see  that  our  most  merciful  Re- 
deemer, adapting  the  provisions  of  his  grace 
to  the  constitution  of  our  nature,  has  ordained 
that  his  visible  Church  shall  be  built  up,  not 
of  isolated  individuals,  but  of  families.  Every 
child  of  believing  parents  is  by  his  birth  a 
citizen  of  God's  kingdom  and  an  heir  of  its 
privileges,  subject  to  the  condition  of  subse- 
quent personal  faith. 

But  the  basis  of  church  membership  is  the 
covenant  of  grace  which  Christ  condescends 
to  make  with  his  people,  of  which  covenant 


BAPTISM    OF    INI' ANTS.  11 

faith  is  the  essential  condition  and  baptism 
the  visible  sign;  and  as  infants  cannot  in 
their  own  persons  exercise  faith,  their  mem- 
bership must  in  the  first  instance  rest  upon 
the  faith  of  their  parents  until  they  come  to 
mi  age  intelligently  and  voluntarily  to  em- 
brace and  profess  Christ  themselves. 

Therefore,  do  you,  the  parents  of  this  child, 
receive  the  blessed  Redeemer  for  yourself  and 
for  your  child,  and  do  you  accept  anew  the 
covenant  of  grace  as  offered  to  you  and  as 
embracing  him  ? 

Do  you  unreservedly  consecrate  your  child 
to  the  Lord's  service,  and  do  you  in  humble 
reliance  upon  the  grace  of  Christ,  which  help- 
eth  all  our  infirmities,  promise  to  set  your 
child  a  holy  example ;  to  give  him  the  nur- 
ture pertaining  to  a  lamb  of  the  flock ;  to 
pray  with  him  and  for  him ;  to  use  in  his 
behalf  all  scriptural  means,  and  invoke 
upon  him  all  spiritual  blessings ;  and  to  teach 
him  to  observe  all  things  whatsoever  the 
Lord  hath  commanded  you  ? 

[Here  the  parents  shall  bow  assent.] 

The  Minister  shall  then  *<nj :  May  the 
blessing  of  the  God  of  the  covenant,  the 
God  of  Abraham,  of  Isaac  and  of  Jacob, 


12 


MANUAL   OF    FORMS. 


i 


g=^zl^=S~T^  a:^^E 


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^-    -P-  -^  -J-.    J  _ 


:^ 


Before  Administration. 

1  And  Jesus  said,  Suffer  little  children,  and  forbid  them 

not,  to  |  come  "  unto  |  me;  ||  For  of  such  |  is  the  | 
kingdom  "  of  |  heaven. 

2  He  shall  feed  |  his  flock  "  like  a  |  shepherd :  ||  He 

shall  gather  the  lambs  with  his  arm,  and  |  carry  " 
them  |  in  his  |  bosom. 

3  I  will  pour  my  Spirit  upon  thy  seed,  and  my  blessing 

up-  |  on  thine  |  offspring ;  ||  And  they  shall  spring 
up  as  among  the  grass,  as  |  willows  "  by  the  | 
water-  J  courses. 


After  Administration. 

1  Then  will  I  sprinkle  clean  ]  water  "  up-  |  on  you,  || 

And  |  ye  shall  |  be  —  |  clean : 

2  A  new  heart  also  |  will  I  |  give  you,  ||  And  a  new 

spirit  |  will  I  |  put  with-  |  in  you, 
8  And  I  will  take  away  the  stony  heart  ]  out  of  M  your  | 

flesh,  ||  And  I  will  |  give  "  you  a  |  heart  of  |  flesh. 
Glory  be  to  the  Father,  and  |  to  the  |  Son :  ||  And  j  to 

the  |  Holy  |  Ghost ; 
As  it  was  in  the  beginning,  is  now,  and  |  ever  |  shall 

b3,  ||  World  |  without  |  end.     A-  |  men. 


BAPTISM    OF   INFANTS.  13 

your  fathers'  God,  whom  we  adore  as 
Father,  Son  and  Holy  Ghost,  be  with  you 
and  your  seed  for  ever.     Amen. 

[If  desired,  the  choir  may  chant  some  words  of  Scrip- 
ture, such  as  Ps,  ciii.  17,  18;  Mark  x.  14;  Acts  ii.  39.] 

The  parent  now  handing  the  name  of  the 
child  in  writing  to  the  minister,  the  latter 
si  tall  say : 

N,  I  baptize  thee  in  the  name  of  the 
Father,  of  the  Son,  and  of  the  Holy  Ghost. 
Amen. 

[The  choir  concluding  their  chant,  Ezck.  xxxvi.  25, 
26 ;  Isa.  xliv.  3,  4,  and  Gloria  Patri.] 

Then  the  minister  shall  conclude  with  an 
appropriate  prayer. 


14  MANUAL   OF   FORMS. 


IT  "  Children  born  within  the  pale  of  the  visible  Church, 
and  dedicated  to  God  in  baptism,  are  under  the  inspection 
and  government  of  the  Church ;  and  are  to  be  taught  to 
read  and  repeat  the  Catechism,  the  Apostles'  Creed,  and 
the  Lord's  Prayer.  They  are  to  be  taught  to  pray,  to 
abhor  sin,  to  fear  God,  and  to  obey  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ.  And  when  they  come  to  years  of  discretion,  if 
they  be  free  from  scandal,  appear  sober  and  steady,  and 
to  have  sufficient  knowledge  to  discern  the  Lord's  body, 
they  ought  to  be  informed  it  is  their  duty  and  privilege 
to  come  to  the  Lord's  Supper."  Directory  for  Worship, 
ch.  9,  1 1. 


\  "  The  years  of  discretion  in  young  Christians  cannot 
be  precisely  fixed.  This  must  be  left  to  the  prudence  of 
the  eldership.  The  officers  of  the  Church  are  the  judges 
of  the  qualifications  of  those  to  be  admitted  to  sealing 
ordinances,  and  of  the  time  when  it  is  proper  to  admit 
young  Christians  to  them,  who  shall  be  examined  as  to 
their  knowledge  and  piety."  Directory  for  Worship, 
ch.  9,  \l  2,  3. 


0  R  D  E  R 


FOR   THE 

ADMISSION  OF  THOSE  WHO  WEEE  BAPTIZED  IN 
INFANCY  TO  FULL  Oil  CONFIRMED  MEMBER- 
SHIP  IN   THE  CHURCH  AS  COMMUNICANTS. 


Grace  be  to  you  and  peace  from  God  our 
Father,  and  from  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 

Beloved  child  of  the  Church,  do  you  rec- 
ognize as  binding  on  yourself  that  covenant 
which  God  formed  with  your  parents,  includ- 
ing you  as  their  seed,  the  seal  of  which, 
Christian  bajDtism,  they  caused  to  be  applied 
to  you  in  your  infancy  ? 

Candidate :  I  do. 

Do  you  here,  in  the  presence  of  God  and 
of  this  congregation,  adopt  and  profess  that 
Christian  faith  wherein  you  were  baptized? 
Do  you  believe  in  God  the  Father  almighty, 
Maker  of  heaven  and  earth ;  and  in  Jesus 
Christ  his  only  Son,  our  Lord,  who  was  con- 
ceived by  the  Holy  Ghost,  born  of  the  Vir- 
gin Mary  ;  suffered  under  Pontius  Pilate,  was 

1 3 


16  MANUAL    OF    FORMS. 

crucified,  dead  and  buried ;  who  the  third 
day  rose  again  from  the  dead  ;  ascended  into 
heaven,  and  sitteth  on  the  right  hand  of  God 
the  Father  almighty,  from  whence  he  shall 
come  to  judge  the  quick  and  the  dead  ?  Do 
you  believe  in  the  Holy  Ghost;  the  Holy 
Catholic  Church  ;  the  communion  of  saints ; 
the  forgiveness  of  sins ;  the  resurrection  of 
the  body  and  the  life  everlasting  ? 

Candidate :  I  do. 

Do  you  take — the  Father  to  be  your 
father  (1  Thess.  i.  9)  ? 

— the  Son  to  be  your  Saviour  (Acts 
v.  31)  ? 

And — the  Holy  Ghost  to  be  your  Sanc- 
tifier  (1  Pet.  i.  2)  ? 

Do  you  take — the  word  of  God  to  be 
your  rule  (2  Tim.  iii.  16,  17)  ? 

And — the  people  of  God  to  be  your  people 
(Euth  i.  16,  17)  ? 

Do  you  dedicate  yourself,  your  soul  and 
body,  time,  talents  and  possessions,  to  the 
Lord  (Rom.  xiv.  7,  8),  freely  (Ps.  ex.  3),  de- 
liberately (Josh.  xxiv.  15),  sincerely  (2  Cor. 
i.  12),  and  for  ever  (Rom.  viii.  35-39)  ? 

Candidate :  By  the  help  of  God,  I  do. 

Do  you  promise  subjection  in  the  Lord  to 


ORDER    FOR   CHURCH    ADMISSION.  17 

the  authorities  of  this  Church,  and  to  walk 
in  brotherly  love  with  the  brethren  ? 

Candidate :  I  do. 

The  Min  isfer  ah  < i  II  Hi  t  n  say  :  In  the  name 
of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  I  pronounce  you  to 
be  a  member  of  the  visible  Church  in  full 
communion,  and  I  affectionately  commend 
you  to  the  confidence,  love  and  care  of  the 
brethren.  And  may  the  grace  of  our  Lord 
Jesns  Christ,  and  the  love  of  God,  and  the 
communion  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  rest  upon  you 
for  ever.     Amen. 


18  MANUAL   OF   FORMS. 


^  "  Baptism  is  not  to  be  administered  to  any  that  are 
out  of  the  visible  Church,  and  so  strangers  from  the 
covenant  of  promise  till  they  profess  faith  in  Christ  and 
obedience  to  him."     Larger  Catechism,  Q.  166. 


%  "When  unbaptized  persons  apply  for  admission  to 
the  visible  Church,  they  shall,  in  ordinary  cases,  after 
giving  satisfaction  with  respect  to  their  knowledge  and 
piety,  make  a  public  profession  of  their  faith  in  the 
presence  of  the  congregation,  and  thereupon  be  bap- 
tized."   Directory  for  Worship,  ch.  9,  \  4. 


ORDER 

FOR  THE 

BAPTISM  OF  ADULTS 

AND  THEIR   ADMISSION   TO 

FULL    COMMUNION. 


Hear  what  the  Lord  Jesus  said  to  Nico- 
demus,  as  recorded  in  the  third  verse  of  the 
third  chapter  of  the  Gospel  according  to  St. 
John : 

Verily,  verily,  I  say  unto  thee,  Except  a 
man  be  born  again,  he  cannot  see  the  kingdom 
of  God.  Nicodemus  saith  to  him,  How  can 
a  man  be  born  when  he  is  old?  Can  he 
enter  a  second  time  into  his  mother's  womb 
and  be  born  ?  Jesus  answered,  Verily,  ver- 
ily, I  say  unto  thee,  Except  a  man  be  born 
of  water  and  of  the  Spirit,  he  cannot  enter 
into  the  kingdom  of  God.  That  which  is 
born  of  the  flesh  is  flesh,  and  that  which  is 
born  of  the  Spirit  is  spirit.  Marvel  not  that 
I  said  unto  thee,  Ye  must  be  born  again. 

Hear  also  the  words  of  the  Lord  recorded 


ig 


20  MANUAL   OF    FORMS. 

in  the  thirty-second  verse  of  the  tenth  chap- 
ter of  the  Gospel  according  to  Matthew : 

Whosoever,  therefore,  shall  confess  me  be- 
fore men,  him  will  I  confess  also  before  my 
Father  which  is  in  heaven.  But  whosoever 
shall  deny  me  before  men,  him  will  I  also 
deny  before  my  Father  which  is  in  heaven. 

As  the  apostle  Paul  also  saith  in  the  tenth 
verse  of  the  tenth  chapter  of  his  Epistle  to 
the  Romans,  With  the  heart  man  believeth 
unto  righteousness;  and  with  the  mouth  con- 
fession is  made  unto  salvation. 

Do  you,  therefore,  with  your  heart  sincere- 
ly receive  and  trust  in  the  righteousness  of 
Christ  alone  for  salvation,  and  with  your 
mouth  do  you  confess  him  as  your  Saviour 
and  your  Lord  for  ever  ? 

Answer :  I  do. 

Do  you  unfeignedly  repent  of  all  your  sins, 
especially  of  your  past  rejection  of  your  Sa- 
viour ?  Do  you  renounce  the  world,  the  flesh 
and  the  devil,  and  all  their  evil  works  and 
lusts,  so  that  you  will  no  longer  follow  or  be 
led  by  them  ? 

Answer :  I  do. 

Do  you  heartily  believe  and  profess  the 
Christian  faith?      Do  you  believe  in   God 


BAPTISM    OF    ADULTS.  21 

the  Father  almighty,  Maker  of  heaven  and 

earth;  and  in  Jesus  Christ  his  only  Son,  our 
Lord,  who  was  conceived  by  the  Holy  Ghost, 
born  of  the  Virgin  Mary;  suffered  under  Pon- 
tius Pilate,  was  crucified,  dead  and  buried  ; 
who  the  third  day  rose  again  from  the  dead; 
ascended  into  heaven,  and  sitteth  on  the  right 
hand  of  God  the  Father  almighty .  from  whence 
he  shall  come  to  judge  the  quick  and  the  dead  ? 
Do  you  believe  in  the  Holy  Ghost;  the  Holy 
Catholic  Church;  the  communion  of  saints; 
the  forgiveness  of  sins ;  the  resurrection  of 
the  body;  and  the  life  everlasting? 

Answer :  I  do. 

Do  you  take  God  the  Father  to  be  your 
father  ? 

—  the  Son  to  be  your  Saviour  ? 

—  the  Holy  Ghost  to  be  your  Sanctifier  ? 

—  the  word  of  God  to  be  your  rule? 

—  the  people  of  God  to  be  your  people  ? 
Do  you  also  dedicate  yourself,  your  soul 

and  body,  your  time,  talents  and  possessions, 
to  the  Lord,  freely,  deliberately,  sincerely 
and  for  ever  ? 

Answer :  By  the  help  of  God,  I  do. 

Do  you  promise  subjection  in  the  Lord  to 
the    constituted    authorities   of  this    church, 


22  MANUAL   OF   FORMS. 


Psalm  ciii.  17, 18. 
But  the  mercy  of  the  Lord  is  from  everlasting  to  ever- 
lasting upon  them  that  fear  him.,  and  his  righteousness 
unto  children's  children ; 

To  such  as  keep  his  covenant,  and  to  those  that  re- 
member his  commandments  to  do  them. 


Ezekiel  xxxvi.  25,  26. 
Then  will  I  sprinkle  clean  water  upon  you,  and  ye 
shall  be  clean:  from  all  your  filthiness,  and  from  all 
your  idols,  will  I  cleanse  you. 

A  new  heart  also  will  I  give  you,  and  a  new  spirit  will 
I  put  within  you :  and  I  will  take  away  the  stony  heart 
out  of  your  flesh,  and  I  will  give  you  an  heart  of  flesh. 


Glory  be  to  the  Father,  and  to  the  Son,  and  to  the  Holy 
Ghost,  as  it  was  in  the  beginning,  is  now,  and  ever  shall 
be,  world  without  end.    Amen. 


BAPTISM    OF    ADULTS.  23 

and    to   walk    in    brotherly    love    with    the 
brethren  ? 

Answer:  I  do. 

[If  desired,  tho  choir  may  chant  Bome  passage  of 
Scripture,  as  Vs.  ciii.  17,  18. J 

The  candidate  kneeling,  the  minister  shall 
say  : 

N,  I  baptize  thee  in  the  name  of  the  Father, 
and  of  the  Son,  and  of  the  Holy  Ghost. 
Amen. 

[Choir  chanting  Ezok.  xxxvi.  25,  2G,  and  Gloria  Patri.J 

In  the  name  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  I 
pronounce  you  to  be  a  member  of  the  visible 
Church  in  full  communion,  and  I  affection- 
ately commend  you  to  the  confidence,  love 
and  care  of  the  brethren.  And  may  the 
grace  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  the  love 
of  God,  and  the  communion  of  the  Holy 
Ghost,  rest  upon  you  for  ever.     Amen. 


24  MANUAL   OF   FORMS. 


[Prei  lmixary  Note. — In  order  to  membership  in  thu 
church,  nothing  is  ordinarily  required  but  satisfactory 
evidence  of  the  acceptance  of  gospel  truth  and  of  the 
experience  of  God's  grace,  or  proper  letters  of  dismis- 
sion from  other  evangelical  churches. 

Those  who  join  a  Presbyterian  church  should,  how- 
ever, be  in  sympathy  with  its  doctrine  and  order,  full 
statements  of  which  are  to  be  found  in  the  "West- 
minster Confession  of  Faith,"  "Larger  and  Shorter 
Catechisms  "  and  "  Form  of  Government."  These  ex- 
press our  views  of  the  truth  as  taught  in  the  word  of 
God,  the  only  authoritative  exposition  of  His  will  and 
law.l 


A    FORMULA 

Foil   THE 

RECEPTION  OF  MEMBERS. 

PBEPABED    BY    THE     REV.    A.   T.   PlEBSON,     D.  D. 


Beloved  m  the  Loud: 
The  Church  of  God  is  not  of  man's  ap- 
pointment. He  who  saw  that  it  was  "  not 
good  that  the  man  should  be  alone  "  formed 
believers  into  the  Household  of  Faith,  with 
ordinances  and  sacraments.  Our  Lord  bade 
his  disciples  " confess"  him  "before  men," 
and  the  Holy  Ghost,  through  the  apostle 
Paul,  declares  that  "if  thou  shalt  confess 
with  thy  mouth  the  Lord  Jesus,  and  shalt 
believe  in  thine  heart  that  God  hath  raised 
him  from  the  dead,  thou  shalt  be  saved." 
God  has  "  given  a  banner  to  them  that  fear 
Him,  that  it  may  be  displayed  because  of 
the  truth." 

You   will  now  listen  to  a  brief  summary 
of  our  holy  faith  : 

We  believe  in  one    God,  Father,  Son  and 
Holy  Ghost,  Creator  ami  Ruler  of  all,  in- 

25 


26  MANUAL   OF   FORMS. 

finitely  perfect  and  worthy  of  love,  worship 
and  obedience. 

We  believe  in  one  Saviour,  Jesus  the 
Christ,  God  manifest  in  the  flesh,  who  in  his 
life  fulfilled  the  law  and  by  his  death  atoned 
for  sin. 

We  believe  in  one  Holy  Spirit,  who  con- 
vinces of  sin,  renews  the  heart  and  trans- 
forms the  life. 

We  believe  in  one  Rule  of  doctrine  and 
duty,  the  Holy  Scriptures,  the  divinely  in- 
spired and  infallible  guide. 

We  believe  in  one  condition  of  salvation, 
faith  in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  manifest  in 
godly  sorrow  for  sin  and  in  a  godly  life. 

We  believe  in  one  Church  of  God,  embra- 
cing all  who  are  united  to  Christ  by  saving 
faith  and  divine  grace. 

We  believe  in  one  Day  of  Judgment  for  all 
mankind,  with  its  eternal  awards,  according 
to  the  deeds  done  in  the  body. 

Confessing  this  as  your  faith,  you  are  now 
to  enter  into  formal  covenant  with  God  and 
this  church. 

Address  to  those  Baptized  in  Infancy: 
You,  having  been  baptized  in  infancy,  are 


RECEPTION    OF    MEMBERS.  27 

now  to  come  into  full  communion  with  the 
Church  whose  external  privileges  you  have 
already  enjoyed.  By  your  voluntary  choice 
of  Christ,  and  hy  your  saving  faith  in  Him, 
you  are  now,  we  trust,  no  longer  heirs  merely 
of  covenant  privileges,  but  of  salvation  also. 
The  vows  and  obligations,  assumed  in  your 
behalf  in  baptism,  you  do  now  ratify  and 
confirm.  With  your  own  hand  you  sub- 
scribe unto  the  Lord,  set  your  seal  to  the 
covenant  with  God,  and  declare,  "  I  am  the 
Lord's." 

Address  to  those  not  hitherto  Baptized  : 
You,  who  have  not  hitherto  enjoyed  even 
this  outward  membership  in  the  Church  of 
God,  now  formally  separate  yourselves  from 
the  world,  that  you  may  take  your  place  as 
"fellow-citizens  with  the  saints  and  of  the 
household  of  God."  Let  your  baptism  this 
day  be  indeed  the  "  putting  away  of  the  filth 
of  the  flesh  "  and  the  "  putting  on  "  of  "  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ." 

[Here  let  baptism  be  administered.] 

And  now,  beloved,  renouncing  the  world, 
the  flesh  and  the  devil,  you  take  God  the 
Father  to  be  your  God,  Jesus  Christ  to  be 


28  MANUAL   OF   FORMS. 

your  Saviour,  and  the  Holy  Spirit  to  be 
your  Sanctifier ; 

You  take  the  word  of  God  as  your  rule  of 
faith  and  practice,  and  the  people  of  God  to 
be  your  people ; 

And  you  give  yourself,  soul  and  body, 
time  and  talents,  ]30wers  and  possessions,  to 
the  service  of  the  Lord ; 

And  you  do  this,  intelligently,  deliberate- 
ly, sincerely,  unreservedly,  freely  and  for 
ever. 

Address  to  those  Eeceived  by  Letter 

[Who  stand  up  at  their  respective  seats] : 
Having  already  confessed  Christ,  you  to- 
day renew  your  covenant  with  God  and 
transfer  your  relations  to  this  church.  May 
God  give  you  grace  to  honor  Him,  and  to 
promote  the  spread  of  the  gospel,  the  peace 
of  the  church  and  the  salvation  of  souls. 

[Church  members  here  rise.] 

We,  the  officers  and  members  of  this 
church,  do  now  affectionately  welcome  you 
all  to  membership  and  fellowship  in  this 
Christian  household.  We  humbly  pray  for 
divine  help,  that  we  may  together  seek  the 
present  and  eternal  welfare  of  our  fellow- 


KECEPTION    OF    MEMBERS.  29 

disciples  and  "do  good  unto  all  men,  espe- 
cially unto  them  who  are  of  the  household 
of  faith." 

And  now,  may  "the  God  of  peace,  that 
brought  again  from  the  dead  our  Lord  Jesus, 
that  great  Shepherd  of  the  sheep,  through 
the  blood  of  the  everlasting  covenant,  make 
you  perfect  in  every  good  work  to  do  his  will, 
working  in  you  that  which  is  well-pleasing 
in  his  sight,  through  Jesus  Christ,  to  whom 
be  glory  for  ever  and  ever.     Amen." 


30  MANUAL   OF   FORMS. 


fl  "  As  the  body  and  blood  of  Christ  are  not  corporally 
or  carnally  present  in,  with,  or  under  the  bread  and 
wine  in  the  Lord's  Supper ;  and  yet  are  spiritually  pres- 
ent to  the  faith  of  the  receiver,  no  less  truly  and  really 
than  the  elements  themselves  are  to  their  outward 
senses ;  so  they  that  worthily  communicate  in  the  sac- 
rament of  the  Lord's  Supper,  do  therein  feed  upon  the 
body  and  blood  of  Christ,  not  after  a  corporal  or  carnal, 
but  in  a  spiritual  manner ;  yet  truly  and  really,  while 
by  faith  they  receive  and  apply  unto  themselves  Christ 
crucified,  and  all  the  benefits  of  his  death."  Larger  Cate- 
chism, Q.  170. 


T[  "  One  who  doubteth  of  his  being  in  Christ,  or  of  his 
due  preparation  to  the  sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper, 
may  have  true  interest  in  Christ,  though  he  be  not  yet 
assured  thereof;  and  in  God's  account  hath  it,  if  he  be 
duly  affected  with  the  apprehension  of  the  want  of  it, 
and  unfeignedly  desires  to  be  found  in  Christ  and  to  de- 
part from  all  iniquity."    Larger  Catechism,  Q.  172. 


0  R  D  E  R 


for  tin; 

ADMINISTRATION  OF  THE  LORD'S  SUPrKK. 


Hear  the  words  of  the  institution  of  this 
Holy  Supper  of  our  Lord,  as  given  by  reve- 
lation to  his  apostle  Paul,  and  recorded  in 
the  eleventh  chapter  of  the  First  Epistle  to 
the  Corinthians : 

For  I  have  received  of  the  Lord  that 
which  also  I  delivered  unto  you,  That  the 
Lord  Jesus,  the  same  night  in  which  he  was 
betrayed,  took  bread  :  and  when  he  had  given 
thanks  he  brake  it  and  said,  Take,  eat,  this 
is  my  body  which  is  broken  for  you  ;  this  do 
in  remembrance  of  me.  After  the  same 
manner  also,  he  took  the  cup  when  he  had 
supped,  saying,  This  cup  is  the  new  testa- 
ment in  my  blood ;  this  do  ye,  as  oft  as  ye 
drink  it,  in  remembrance  of  me.  For  as 
often  as  ye  eat  this  bread  and  drink  this 
cup,  ye  do  show  the  Lord's  death  till  he  come. 

31 


32  MANUAL   OF    FORMS. 

*[  "  Such  as  are  found  to  be  ignorant  or  scandalous, 
notwithstanding  their  profession  of  the  faith,  and  desire 
to  come  to  the  Lord's  Supper,  may  and  ought  to  be  kept 
from  that  sacrament  by  the  power  which  Christ  hath 
left  in  his  Church,  until  they  receive  instruction,  and 
manifest  their  reformation."    Larger  Catechism,  Q.  173. 


H  It  is  especially  to  be  remembered  that  since  the 
"sacraments  are  seals  of  the  covenant  of  grace,"  formed 
between  Christ  and  his  people,  and  since  in  the  Lord's 
Supper  "the  worthy  receivers  really  and  truly  receive 
and  apply  unto  themselves  Christ  and  him  crucified," 
each  believer  being  made  "  a  priest  unto  God  "  (1  Pet. 
ii.  5  and  Rev.  i.  6),  "having  liberty  to  enter  into  the 
holiest  by  the  blood  of  Jesus"  (Heb.  x.  19),  it  neces- 
sarily follows  that  in  this  sacrament  the  communicants  are 
to  act  immediately  and  personally  in  their  covenanting  with 
the  Lord.  The  minister,  therefore,  ought  not  to  throw 
them  into  a  passive  attitude  as  the  recipients  of  his 
instructions  or  exhortations.  All  such  didactic  and 
hortatory  exercises  being  assigned  to  the  preparatory 
services  and  to  the  sermon  before  communion,  the 
minister  should  abstain  from  addressing  and  confine 
himself  to  leading  the  communicants  in  the  act  of  com- 
munion by  means  of  acts  of  direct  worship,  such  as 
suitable  prayers  and  hymns.  And  all  the  prayers  and 
hymns  associated  with  this  holy  ordinance  should  be 


ADMINISTRATION  OF  THE  LORD'S  SUPPEB.  33 

It  is  my  solemn  duty  to  warn  the  ignorant 
and  the  scandalous,  and  those  that  are  in- 
dulging in  known  sin,  not  to  approach  this 
sacred  feast  lest  they  eat  and  drink  judgment 
to  themselves.  Ye  cannot  drink  of  the  cup 
of  the  Lord,  and  the  cup  of  devils:  ye  can- 
not be  partakers  of  the  Lord's  table,  and  of 
the  table  of  devils.     1  Cor.  x.  21. 

But  it  is  also  my  high  privilege  to  invite, 
in  the  name  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  all  those  pro- 
fessors who,  sensible  of  their  sinfulness  and 
helplessness,  trust  alone  to  the  perfect  atone- 
ment and  reconciliation  of  their  Lord,  and 
whose  humble  hope  and  purpose  it  is,  through 
grace,  to  lead,  henceforth,  holy  and  godly 
lives.  And,  all  those  who,  professing  alle- 
giance to  our  common  Redeemer,  are  mem- 
bers in  good  standing  in  sister  evangelical 
churches,  are  cordially  welcomed  by  us  to  a 
place  at  our  Master's  table.  For  we  being 
many  are  one  bread  and  one  body:  for  we 
are  all  partakers  of  that  one  bread.  1  Cor. 
x.  17. 

[TJie  congregation  shut!  then  sing  an  appropriate,  sacra- 
mental hymn,  such  as  "O  bread  to  pilgrims  given;"  or 
"My  God,  and  is  thy  table  spread;"  or  "According  to 
thy  gracious  word."] 

[Then  the  minister  shaU  offer  a  solemn  prayer  of—Invo- 
3 


34  MANUAL   Or    POBMS. 

specifically  appropriate  to  it,  and  not  of  a  mere  general 
rel i uioiis  character. 


fl  "  The  standards  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  are 
clear  in  their  teaching,  that  the  Lord's  Supper  is  not  to 
be  received  by  any  one  alone,  yet  in  cases  of  protract- 
ed- sickness  or  approaching  death,  when  the  desire  is 
strongly  urged  by  a  member  of  the  Church  (whether 
previously  so,  or  by  recent  confession  and  baptism)  to 
enjoy  the  administration  of  the  Lord's  Supper,  a  pastor, 
with  one  or  more  of  his  session  and  such  communicants 
as  may  appropriately  be  admitted,  may  proceed  to  ad- 
minister this  sacrament — a  minute  of  every  such  act  to 
be  entered  on  the  records  of  session."  General  Assem- 
bly, 0.  S.  1863,  Moore's  Digest,  p.  668. 


ADMINISTRATION  OF  THE  LORDS  SUPPER.  :>.> 

cation,  Consecration,  Confession  and  Supplication  for  tht  in- 
dwelling and  communion  of  the  Father  and  the  Son  through 
tin  Spirit.] 

The  Distribution  of  the  Bread  : 

[The  minister  should  take  the  bread  and  break  it  in 
view  of  the  people,  saying  :] 

Our  blessed  Lord,  the  same  night  in  which 
he  was  betrayed,  having  taken  bread  and 
blessed  it,  brake  it  and  gave  to  his  disciples 
(as  I  do,  ministering  in  his  name),  saying: 
Take,  eat,  this  is  my  body  which  is  broken 
fur  you;  this  do  in  remembrance  of  me. 

[If  for  any  reason  if  be  thought  inexpedient  to  leavi  the 
communicants  to  their  on-,/  silent  meditations  through  the 
whole  time  occupied  by  the  distribution  of  the  elements,  the 
minister  should  raid  slowly  such  of  our  Lard's  own  nurds  as 
the  following:] 

Come  unto  me,  all  ye  that  labor,  and  are 
heavy  laden,  and  I  will  give  you  rest.  Matt. 
xi.  28. 

For  God  so  loved  the  world,  that  he  gave 
his  only-begotten  Son,  that  whosoever  be- 
lieveth  on  him,  should  not  perish,  but  have 
everlasting  life.     John  iii.  10. 

For  the  Son  of  man  is  come  to  seek  and  to 
save  that  which  was  lost.     Luke  xix.  10. 

Look  unto  me  and  be  ye  saved,  all  ye  ends 
of  the  earth.     Isa.  xlv.  22. 


36  MANUAL    OF    FORMS. 

All  that  the  Father  giveth  me  shall  come 
to  me,  and  him  that  cometh  to  me,  I  will  in 
no  wise  cast  out.     John  vi.  37. 

Ye  have  not  chosen  me,  but  I  have  chosen 
you  and  ordained  you,  that  ye  should  go 
and  bring  forth  fruit,  and  that  your  fruit 
should  remain  :  that  whatsoever  ye  shall  ask 
of  the  Father  in  my  name,  he  may  give  it 
you.     John  xv.  16. 

Therefore,  I  say  unto  you,  What  things  so- 
ever ye  desire  when  ye  pray,  believe  that  ye 
receive  them,  and  ye  shall  have  them.  Mark 
xi.  24. 

According  to  your  faith  be  it  unto  you. 
Matt.  ix.  29. 

Write :  Blessed  are  they  which  are  called 
unto  the  marriage-supper  of  the  Lamb.  Rev. 
xix.  9. 

For  the  Bread  of  God  is  he  which  cometh 
down  from  heaven  and  giveth  life  unto  the 
world.  ...  I  am  that  Bread  of  life.  He  that 
cometh  to  me  shall  never  hunger,  and  he 
that  believeth  on  me  shall  never  thirst. 
John  vi.  33-35. 

Whoso  eateth  my  flesh  and  drinketh  my 
blood  hath  eternal  life.     John  vi.  54. 

It  is  the  Spirit  that  quickeneth,  the  flesh 


ADMINISTRATION  OF  THE  LOBD'S  BUPPEE.  37 

profitetli  nothing:  the  words  that  F  Bpeak 
unto  you,  they  are  spirit,  and  they  are  life. 
John  vi.  63. 

He  that  hath  an  ear  let  him  hear  what 
the  Spirit  saith  unto  the  churches:  To  him 
that  overcometh  will  I  give  to  eat  of  the 
hidden  manna.     Rev.  ii.  17. 

He  that  overcometh,  the  same  shall  be 
clothed  in  white  raiment;  and  I  will  not 
blot  out  his  name  out  of  the  book  of  life; 
but  I  will  confess  his  name  before  my 
Father,  and  before  his  angels.     Rev.  iii.  5. 

The  Distribution  of  the  Wine: 

The  minister  shall  say  : 

After  the  same  manner  our  Saviour  also 
took  the  cup,  and  having  given  thanks,  gave 
it  to  his  disciples  (as  I  do  in  his  name),  say- 
ing :  Drink  ye  all  of  it :  for  this  is  my  blood 
of  the  new  testament,  which  is  shed  for  many, 
for  the  remission  of  sins.  Matt.  xxvi.  27,  28. 
For,  as  the  apostle  Paul  adds:  As  often  as  ye 
eat  this  bread,  and  drink  this  cup,  ye  do  show 
the  Lord's  death  till  he  come.     1  Cor.  xi.  26. 

[  Tfdet  med  desirable  the  minister  during  the  distribution  of 

the  cup  may  slowly  read  the  Lord's  words  as  follows  :] 

So  when  they  had  dined,  Jesus  saith  to 


38  MANUAL   OF    FORMS. 

Simon  Peter :  Simon,  son  of  Jonas,  lovest 
thou  me  more  than  these?  And  he  said 
unto  him,  Lord,  thou  knowest  all  things, 
thou  knowest  that  I  love  thee.  John  xxi. 
15-17. 

Henceforth  I  call  you  not  servants ;  for 
the  servant  knoweth  not  what  his  lord 
doeth  ;  but  I  have  called  you  friends ;  for  all 
things  that  I  have  heard  of  my  Father  I 
have  made  known  unto  you.     John  xv.  15. 

Greater  love  hath  no  man  than  this,  that 
a  man  lay  down  his  life  for  his  friends. 
John  xv.  13. 

Fear  not,  little  flock,  for  it  is  your  Father's 
good  pleasure  to  give  you  the  kingdom. 
Luke  xii.  32. 

Behold,  I  stand  at  the  door,  and  knock  :  if 
any  man  hear  my  voice  and  open  the  door, 
I  will  come  in  to  him,  and  will  sup  with 
him,  and  he  with  me.  To  him  that  over- 
cometh  will  I  grant  to  sit  with  me  in  my 
throne,  even  as  I  also  overcame,  and  am  set 
down  with  my  Father  in  his  throne.  He  that 
hath  an  ear,  let  him  hear  what  the  Spirit 
saith  unto  the  churches.     Rev.  iii.  20-22. 

I  am  the  Vine,  ye  are  the  branches  he 
that  abideth  in  me  and  I  in  him,  the  same 


ADMINISTEATION  OF  THE  LOED's  SUPPER.  39 

bringeth  forth  much  fruit;  for  without  me, 
ye  can  do  nothing.     John  xv.  5. 

The  cup  of  blessing  which  we  bless,  is  it 
not  the  communion  of  the  blood  of  Christ  ? 
The  bread  which  we  break,  is  it  not  the  com- 
munion of  the  body  of  Christ?  1  Cor. 
x.  16. 

Except  ye  eat  the  flesh  of  the  Son  of  Man, 
and  drink  his  blood,  ye  have  no  life  in  you. 
John  vi.  53. 

I  will  not  drink  henceforth  of  this  fruit 
of  the  vine,  until  that  day  when  I  drink  it 
new  with  you  in  my  Father's  kingdom. 
Matt.  xxvi.  29. 

Father,  I  will  that  they  also  whom  thou 
hast  given  me,  be  with  me  where  I  am,  that 
they  may  behold  my  glory  which  thou  hast 
given  me;  for  thou  lovedst  me  before  the 
foundation  of  the  world.     John  xvii.  24. 

They  shall  hunger  no  more,  neither  thirst 
any  more,  neither  shall  the  sun  light  on 
them,  nor  any  heat.  For  the  Lamb,  which 
is  in  the  midst  of  the  throne,  shall  feed 
them,  and  shall  lead  them  unto  living  foun- 
tains of  waters;  and  God  shall  wipe  away  all 
tears  from  their  vyv*.     Rev.  vii.  16,  17. 

lie    which    testifieth    these    things    saith, 


40  MANUAL   OF    FORMS. 

Surely,   I  come  quickly ;   Amen :  Even  so, 
come,  Lord  Jesus.     Rev.  xxii.  20. 

[Then  the  minister  shall  offer  a  solemn  prayer :  Of  Thanks- 
giving,  of  Consecration,  of  Intercession  for  absent  Communi- 
cants, for  Baptized  Children  and  for  the  Church  Universal.} 

[Then  the  congregation  shall  sing  an  appropriate  hymn, 
such  as  "All  hail  the  power  of  Jesus'  name."] 

Benediction. 


42  MANUAL   OF   FORMS. 


Tf  Marriage  is  a  civil  contract,  inasmuch  as  the  state, 
for  the  welfare  of  human  society,  must  recognize  and 
enforce  it  in  its  civil  relations  and  consequents. 


f  Yet  it  is  not  a  mere  civil  contract,  but  also  a  religious 
contract  under  a  divine  constitution.  Because  (1)  it  is 
founded  upoi  the  nature  of  man  as  constituted  by  God. 
(2)  It  was  instituted  by  God  in  Paradise  before  the  exist- 
ence of  civil  society,  and  consequently  civil  society  for 
ever  presupposes  marriage,  and  marriage  therefore  can- 
not essentially  presuppose  civil  society.  (3)  In  his  in- 
spired word  God  has  denned  the  nature,  conditions  and 
mutual  duties  of  marriage,  and  the  conditions  of  its  law- 
ful dissolution.  (4)  The  vows  of  mutual  fidelity  are 
made  by  the  parties  to  God  as  well  as  to  each  other. 
(5)  The  grace  which  alone  can  enable  the  parties  to 
realize  marriage  in  its  highest  sense  is  from  God  only. 


IT  Hence  it  follows:  (1)  That  Christians  are  bound  to 
observe  in  their  marriages  the  laws  of  the  common- 
wealth, as  far  as  these  are  consistent  with  the  revealed 
laws  of  God.    (2)  That  the  state  has  no  right  to  ignore 


ORDER 

FOR  TIIE 

SOLEMNIZATION    OF    MARRIAGE. 


Dearly  beloved,  we  are  assembled  here 
in  the  sight  of  God  and  these  witnesses,  to 
join  this  man  and  this  woman  in  the  bonds 
of  matrimony ;  which  is  an  honorable  estate, 
instituted  by  God  in  the  time  of  man's  inno- 
cency,  confirmed  by  the  teaching  and  sanc- 
tioned by  the  presence  of  our  blessed  Lord, 
and  compared  by  Saint  Paul  to  the  mystical 
union  between  Christ  and  his  Church. 

Into  this  holy  estate  these  two  persons 
have  come  to  be  joined. 

If  any  man  can  show  just  cause  why  they 
may  not  lawfully  be  joined  together,  let  him 
speak  now,  or  else  hereafter  for  ever  hold 
his  peace. 

It  will  be  your  duty,  M,  to  be  to  N  a 
loving,  tender,  faithful  husband,  to  support, 
guide  and  cherish  her,  in  prosperity  and  in 
adversity,  and,  forsaking  all  others,  to  cleave 

43 


44  MANUAL   OF    FORMS. 


or  to  violate  the  di  vine  law  in  its  legal  provisions  for  mar- 
riage or  divorce,  and  that  when  it  does  so,  Christians 
are  bound  to  obey  God,  even  if  that  involve  disobedience 
to  man.  (3)  Christians  ought  to  marry  in  the  Lord, 
and  their  marriages  should  be  solemnized  by  a  lawful 
minister,  who  alone  is  competent  to  interpret  and  en- 
force the  divine  law  and  invoke  upon  their  union  the 
divine  blessing.     See  Directory  for  Worship,  ch.  11.  \  2. 


\  "While  our  form  of  government  does  not  recognize 
licentiates  as  ministers  of  the  gospel,  yet  this  Assembly 
(1844)  does  not  consider  them  as  violating  any  rules  of 
the  Church  by  solemnizing  marriage  in  those  States  where 
the  civil  laws  expressly  authorize  them  to  do  it."  Moore's 
Digest,  p.  402. 


If  "It  is  lawful  for  all  sorts  of  people  to  marry  who  are 
able  with  judgment  to  give  their  consent,  yet  it  is  the 
duty  of  Christians  to  marry  only  in  the  Lord.  And, 
therefore,  such  as  profess  the  true  Reformed  religion 
should  not  marry  with  infidels,  Papists,  or  other  idol- 
aters;  neither  should  such  as  are  godly  be  unequally 


SOLEMNIZATION   OF    MARRIAGE.  45 

to  her  only  with  a  love  that  fails  not,  until 
dcnth  shall  part  you. 

It  will  be  your  duty,  N,  to  be  to  M  a  lov- 
ing, tender,  faithful  and  obedient  wife,  to 
comfort,  counsel  and  cherish  him,  in  prosper- 
ity and  in  adversity,  and,  forsaking  all  others, 
to  cleave  to  him  alone  with  a  love  that  fails 
not,  until  death  shall  part  you. 

If  you  would  assume  these  relations  and 
duties,  as  thus  defined  after  the  word  of  God, 
join  your  hands  and  together  assent  to  the 
marriage  covenant. 

Do  you,  M,  in  the  presence  of  God  and 
these  witnesses,  solemnly  pledge  your  faith 
to  N,  that  you  will  live  with  her  after  God's 
ordinance  in  the  holy  estate  of  matrimony, 
and  that  through  his  grace,  you  will  be  to 
her  a  faithful  and  loving  husband  as  long  as 
you  both  shall  live? 

Do  you,  N,  in  the  presence  of  God  and 
these  witnesses,  solemnly  pledge  your  faith 
to  M,  that  you  will  live  with  him  after  God's 
ordinance  in  the  holy  estate  of  matrimony, 
and  that,  through  grace,  you  will  be  to  him  a 
i'a it h ful  and  loving  wife  as  long  as  you  both 
shall  live  ? 

[In  token  of  these  your  mutual  engage- 


46  MANUAL   OF   FORMS. 


yoked  by  marrying  with  such  as  are  notoriously  wicked 
in  their  life,  or  maintain  damnable  heresies."  Confes- 
sion of  Faith,  ch.  24,  \  3. 


%  "The  purpose  of  marriage  ought  to  be  sufficiently 
published  a  proper  time  before  the  solemnization  of  it. 
It  is  enjoined  on  all  ministers  to  be  careful  that,  in  this 
matter,  they  transgress  neither  the  laws  of  God  nor  the 
laws  of  the  community;  and  that  they  may  not  destroy 
the  peace  and  comfort  of  families,  they  must  be  prop- 
erly certified  with  respect  to  the  parties  applying  to 
them,  that  no  just  objection  lie  against  their  marriage." 
Directory  of  Worship,  ch.  11,  §  6. 


\  "The  Synod  do  recommend  it  to  all  their  members 
to  use  the  greatest  caution  that  they  do  not  countenance 
any  clandestine  marriages,  and  especially  that  they  do 
not  marry  any  that  they  have  reason  to  suspect  to  go 
contrary  to  the  minds  of  their  parents  and  guardians  in 
seeking  it."    Original  Synod,  1735,  Moore's  Digest,  p.  601. 


SOLEMNIZATION   OF   MAERIAGE.  1/ 

ments,  you,  M,  do  bestow,  and  you,  N,  do 
receive,  this  bridal  ring. 

Let  it  continue  to  you  both  a  symbol  of 

the  value,  the  purity  and  constancy  of  true 
wedded  love,  and  a  seal  of  those  vows  to 
which  you  have  now  set  your  hands.] 

A  DDE  ess  : 

You  are  both  to  remember  that  the  happi- 
ness of  your  union  is  to  be  found  in  mutual 
kindness,  confidence,  affection  and  fidelity. 
I,  therefore,  a  minister  of  the  blessed  gospel, 
charge  and  entreat  you  to  seek  the  help  of 
God  in  all  your  duties;  that  so  his  grace 
may  make  your  union  full  of  comfort  in  this 
life,  and  a  furtherance  of  your  everlasting 
salvation,  to  the  glory  of  his  most  holy  name. 
Amen. 

Let  us  pray  : 

O  God,  by  whom  marriage  was  ordained  : 
O  Christ,  Son  of  God,  by  whose  presence 
this  service  was  adorned  and  rendered  for 
ever  sacred :  O  Holy  Ghost,  who  art  the 
only  source  of  true  blessedness, — look  down 
upon  these  thy  servants,  and  unite  their 
hearts  and  lives  in  all  the  grace  and  true 
affection  of  a  happy  marriage.     May  their 


48  MANUAL  OF   FORMS. 


TT"Let  the  minister  keep  a  proper  register  for  the 
names  of  all  persons  whom  he  marries,  and  of  the  time 
of  their  marriage,  for  the  perusal  of  all  whom  it  may 
concern."  Directory  for  Worship,  ch.  11,  \  8.  Such 
records  are  often  the  only  legal  proofs  available  of 
marriage  and  of  legitimate  inheritance.  The  minister 
should  also  give  a  certificate  of  the  marriage  when  re- 
quested so  to  do. 


SOLEMNIZATION    OF    MARRIAGE.  49 

mutual  love,  now  plighted,  never  know 
change,  or  doubt,  or  decay.  Do  thou  bless 
them  in  each  other,  and  crown  their  lives 
with  thy  loving-kindness  and  tender  mercies. 
And  do  thou,  we  beseech  thee,  O  Lord,  by 
thy  grace,  enable  them  so  to  live  together 
in  this  life  that  in  the  world  to  come  they 
may  have  life  everlasting,  through  Jesus 
Christ  our  Lord.     Amen. 


In  the  name  of  God,  and  of  the  laws  of  this 
commonwealth,  I  pronounce  you  to  be  hus- 
band and  wife ;  and  whom  God  hath  joined 
together  let  not  man  put  asunder. 


The  grace  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ ;  and 
the  love  of  God ;  and  the  communion  of  the 
Holy  Ghost  be  with  you  for  ever.     Amen. 


SELECTIONS 

OF 

SCRIPTURES    TO    BE    READ    AT 
FUNERALS. 


[Ministers  should  be  very  careful  to  avoid  abusing 
God's  word  by  associating  the  hopes  of  the  gospel  with 
the  close  of  an  obviously  Christless  life.] 

Man  that  is  born  of  a  woman  is  of  few 
clays  and  full  of  trouble.  He  cometh  forth 
like  a  flower  and  is  cut  down,  he  fleeth  also 
as  a  shadow  and  continueth  not.   Job  xiv.  1, 2. 

As  for  man,  his  days  are  as  grass :  as  a 
flower  of  the  field,  so  he  flourisheth.  For 
the  wind  passeth  over  it,  and  it  is  gone,  and 
the  place  thereof  shall  know  it  no  more.  But 
the  mercy  of  the  Lord  is  from  everlasting  to 
everlasting  upon  them  that  fear  him;  and 
his  righteousness  unto  children's  children,  to 
such  as  keep  his  covenant,  and  to  those  that 
remember  his  commandments  to  do  them. 
Ps.  ciii.  15-18. 

50 


FUNERAL   SERVICER.  51 

Lord,  thou  hast  beeD  our  dwelling-place 
in  all  generations.  Before  the  mountains 
were  brought  forth,  or  ever  thou  hadst 
formed  the  earth  and  the  world,  even  from 
everlasting  to  everlasting,  thou  art  God. 
Thou  turnest  man  to  destruction,  and  sayest, 
Return,  ye  children  of  men.  For  a  thousand 
years  in  thy  sight  are  but  as  yesterday  when 
it  is  past,  and  as  a  watch  in  the  night.  Thou 
earnest  them  away  as  with  a  flood  :  they  are 
as  a  sleep:  in  the  morning  they  are  like  grass 
which  groweth  up.  In  the  morning  it  flou- 
risheth  and  groweth  up  ;  in  the  evening  it  is 
cut  down  and  withereth.  For  we  are  con- 
sumed by  thine  anger,  and  by  thy  wrath  are 
we  troubled.  Thou  hast  set  our  iniquities 
before  thee,  our  secret  sins  in  the  light  of 
thy  countenance.  For  all  our  days  are 
passed  away  in  thy  wrath  ;  we  spend  our 
years  as  a  tale  that  is  told.     Ps.  xc.  1-9. 

We  must  all  appear  before  the  judgment- 
seat  of  Christ,  that  every  one  may  rec< 
the    things  done  in  his  body,  according  to 
that  he  hath  done,  whether   it  be  good    or 
bad.     2  Cor.  v.  10. 

Verily,  verily,  I  say  unto  you,  the  hour 
is  coming  and  now  is,  when  the  dead  shall 


52  MANUAL    OF   FORMS. 

hear  the  voice  of  the  Son  of  God,  and  they 
that  hear  shall  live.  For  as  the  Father  hath 
life  in  himself,  so  hath  he  given  to  the  Son 
to  have  life  in  himself;  and  hath  given  him 
authority  to  execute  judgment  also,  because 
he  is  the  Son  of  Man.  Marvel  not  at  this: 
for  the  hour  is  coming,  in  the  which  all  that 
are  in  the  graves  shall  hear  his  voice,  and 
shall  come  forth ;  they  that  have  done  good 
unto  the  resurrection  of  life,  and  they  that 
have  done  evil  unto  the  resurrection  of  dam- 
nation.    John  v.  25-29. 

Oh  that  they  were  wise,  that  they  under- 
stood this,  that  they  would  consider  their 
latter  end  !     Deut.  xxxii.  29. 

Jesus  said  unto  her,  I  am  the  resurrection 
and  the  life :  he  that  believeth  in  me,  though 
he  were  dead,  yet  shall  he  live.  And  whoso- 
ever liveth  and  believeth  in  me,  shall  never 
die.     John  xi.  25,  26. 


FUNERAL   BERVIC]  -.  ■<'■', 


SELECTIONS 

RELATING  TO  THE  DEATH   OF 

YOUNG    CHILDREN, 


A  voice  was  heard  in  Rauiah,  lamentation 
and  bitter  weeping;  Rachel  weeping  for  her 
children  refused  to  be  comforted  for  her  chil- 
dren, because  they  were  not.     Jer.  xxxi.  15. 

Suffer  the  little  children  to  come  unto  me, 
and  forbid  them  not;  for  of  such  is  the  king- 
dom of  God.  Verily,  I  say  unto  you,  Whoso- 
ever shall  not  receive  the  kingdom  of  God  as  a 
little  child,  he  shall  not  enter  therein.  And 
he  took  them  up  in  his  arms,  put  his  hands 
upon  them  and  blessed  them.    Mark  x.  14-10. 

Even  so,  it  is  not  the  will  of  your  Father 
which  is  in  heaven  that  one  of  these  little 
ones  should  perish.     Matt,  xviii.  14. 

And  the  Lord  struck  the  child  .  .  .  and  it 
was  very  sick.  David  therefore  besought 
God  for  the  child;  and  David  fasted  and 
went  in   and   lay  all   night  upon   the  earth. 


54  MANUAL    OF    FORMS. 

And  it  came  to  pass  on  the  seventh  day  that 
the  child  died.  And  the  servants  of  David 
feared  to  tell  him  that  the  child  was  dead. 
But  when  David  perceived  that  the  child 
was  dead  ...  he  arose  from  the  earth  and 
washed,  and  anointed  himself  and  changed 
his  apparel  and  came  into  the  house  of  the 
Lord  and  worshiped.  .  .  .  And  he  said,  While 
the  child  was  yet  alive,  I  fasted  and  wept : 
for  I  said,  Who  can  tell  whether  God  will 
be  gracious  to  me,  that  the  child  may  live  ? 
But  now  he  is  dead,  wherefore  should  I  fast? 
Can  I  bring  him  back  again?  I  shall  go  to 
him,  but  he  shall  not  return  to  me.  2  Sam. 
xii.  15-23. 

The  Lord  gave,  and  the  Lord  hath  taken 
away ;  blessed  be  the  name  of  the  L  Drd. 
JobL  21. 


FUNERAL   SERVICES.  55 


SELECTIONS 

RELATING  TO  SUDDEN  DEATH  OF 

PERSONS  IN  MIDDLE  LIFE. 


For  what  is  your  life?  It  is  even  a 
vapour  that  appeareth  for  a  little  time,  and 
then  vanisheth  away.     James  iv.  14. 

Man  knoweth  not  that  which  shall  he,  for 
who  can  tell  him  when  it  shall  be?  There 
is  no  man  that  hath  power  over  the  spirit  to 
retain  the  spirit;  neither  hath  he  power  in 
the  day  of  death ;  and  there  is  no  discharge 
in  that  war.     Eccles.  viii.  7,  8. 

He  draweth  also  the  mighty  with  his 
power ;  he  riseth  up  and  no  man  is  sure  of 
life.  .  .  .  They  air  exalted  for  a  little  while, 
but  are  gone  and  brought  low ;  they  are 
taken  out  of  the  way,  as  all  other,  and  cut 
off  as  the  tops  of  the  ears  of  corn.  Job  xxiv. 
22-lM. 

One  dieth  in  his  full  strength,  being  whol- 
ly at  ease  and  quiet.     And  another  dieth  in 


56  MANUAL   OF    FOKMS. 

the  bitterness  of  his  soul,  and  never  eateth 
with  pleasure.  They  shall  lie  down  alike  in 
the  dust,  and  the  worms  shall  cover  them. 
Job  xxi.  23-26. 

Take  ye  heed,  watch  and  pray ;  for  ye 
know  not  when  the  time  is,  .  .  .  for  ye  know 
not  when  the  Master  of  the  house  cometh,  at 
even,  or  at  midnight,  or  at  the  cockcrowing, 
or  in  the  morning :  lest  coming  suddenly, 
he  find  you  sleeping.  And  what  I  say  unto 
you,  I  say  unto  all,  Watch.   Mark  xiii.  33-37. 


SELECTIONS 

APPLYING  TO  THE  DEATH  OF 

THE  AGED. 


We  spend  our  years  as  a  tale  that  is  told. 
The  days  of  our  years  are  threescore  years 
and  ten,  and  if  by  reason  of  strength  they  be 
fourscore  years,  yet  is  their  strength  labor 
and  sorrow,  for  it  is  soon  cut  off  and  we  fly 
away.     Ps.  xc.  9,  10. 

And  Jacob  said  unto  Pharaoh,  The  days 
of  the  years  of  my  pilgrimage  are  an  hun- 


FUNERAL   SERVICES.  57 

dred  and  thirty  years ;  few  and  evil  have  the 
days  of  the  years  of  niy  life  been.  Gen. 
xlvii.  9. 

The  hoary  head  is  a  crown  of  glory  if  it 
be  found  in  the  way  of  righteousness.  Prov. 
xvi.  31. 

The  righteous  shall  flourish  like  the  palm 
tree :  he  shall  grow  like  a  cedar  in  Lebanon. 
Those  that  he  planted  in  the  house  of  the 
Lord,  shall  flourish  in  the  courts  of  our  God. 
They  shall  still  bring  forth  fruit  in  old  age, 
they  shall  be  fat  and  flourishing,  to  show 
that  the  Lord  is  upright.  He  is  my  rock ; 
and  there  is  no  unrighteousness  in  him.  Ps. 
xcii.  12-15. 

Thou  shalt  come  to  thy  grave  in  a  full 
age ;  like  as  a  shock  of  corn  cometh  in  in 
his  season.     Job  v.  26. 


58  MANUAL    OF    FORMS. 

SELECTIONS 

RELATING    TO    THE    DEATH    OF    BELIEVERS, 

AND   THE 

GLORY  THAT  FOLLOWS. 


And  I  heard  a  voice  from  heaven,  saying 
unto  me,  Write :  Blessed  are  the  dead  which 
die  in  the  Lord  from  henceforth ;  yea,  saith 
the  Spirit,  that  they  may  rest  from  their 
labors,  and  their  works  do  follow  them.  Rev. 
xiv.  13. 

But  I  would  not  have  you  to  be  ignorant, 
brethren,  concerning  them  which  are  asleep, 
that  ye  sorrow  not,  even  as  others  which 
have  no  hope.  For  if  we  believe  that  Jesus 
died  and  rose  again,  even  so  them  also  which 
sleep  in  Jesus  will  God  bring  with  him.  For 
this  we  say  unto  you  by  the  word  of  the  Lord, 
that  we  which  are  alive  and  remain  unto  the 
coming  of  the  Lord,  shall  not  prevent  them 
which  are  asleep.  For  the  Lord  himself 
shall  descend  from  heaven  with  a  shout, 
with  the  voice  of  the  archangel  and  with  the 


FUNERAL   SERVICES.  5U 

trump  of  God  :  and  the  dead  in  Christ  shall 
rise  first.  Then  we  which  arc  alive  and  re- 
main shall  be  caught  up  together  with  them 
in  the  clouds,  to  meet  the  Lord  in  the  air; 
and  so  shall  we  ever  be  with  the  Lord. 
Wherefore  comfort  one  another  with  these 
words.     1  Thess.  iv.  13—18. 

Blessed  and  holy  is  he  that  hath  part  in 
the  first  resurrection :  on  such  the  second 
death  hath  no  power,  but  they  shall  he 
priests  of  God  and  of  Christ,  and  shall  reign 
with  him  a  thousand  years.     Rev.  xx.  6. 

There  is  one  glory  of  the  sun,  and  another 
glory  of  the  moon,  and  another  glory  of  the 
stars:  for  one  star  differeth  from  another  star 
in  glory.  So  also  is  the  resurrection  of  the 
dead.  It  is  sown  in  corruption,  it  is  raised 
in  incorruption  ;  it  is  sowrn  in  dishonor,  it  Is 
raised  in  glory;  it  is  sown  in  weakness,  it  is 
raised  in  power;  it  is  sown  a  natural  body,  it 
is  raised  a  spiritual  body.  There  is  a  natural 
body,  and  there  is  a  spiritual  body.  And  so 
it  is  written  :  The  first  man  Adam  was  made 
a  living  soul,  the  last  Adam  was  made  a 
quickening  spirit.  .  .  .  And  as  we  have  borne 
the  image  of  the  earthy,  we  shall  also  bear 
the    image    of   the    heavenly.  .  .  .  Behold,   I 


60  MANUAL   OF    FORMS. 

shew  you  a  mystery :  we  shall  not  all  sleep, 
but  we  shall  all  be  changed,  in  a  moment,  in 
the  twinkling  of  an  eye,  at  the  last  trump : 
for  the  trumpet  shall  sound,  and  the  dead 
shall  be  raised  incorruptible,  and  we  shall  be 
changed.  For  this  corruptible  must  put  on 
incorruption,  and  this  mortal  must  put  on 
immortality.  So  when  this  corruptible  shall 
have  put  on  incorruption,  and  this  mortal 
shall  have  put  on  immortality,  then  shall  be 
brought  to  pass  the  saying  that  is  written, 
Death  is  swallowed  up  in  victory.  O  death, 
where  is  thy  sting  ?  O  grave,  where  is  thy 
victory  ?  The  sting  of  death  is  sin,  and  the 
strength  of  sin  is  the  law ;  but  thanks  be  to 
God,  which  giveth  us  the  victory,  through 
our  Lord  Jesus  Christ !     1  Cor.  xv.  41-57. 

And  I  saw  a  new  heaven,  and  a  new  earth ; 
for  the  first  heaven  and  the  first  earth  were 
passed  away,  and  there  was  no  more  sea. 
And  I  John  saw  the  holy  city,  new  Jeru- 
salem, coming  down  from  God  out  of  heaven, 
prepared  as  a  bride  adorned  for  her  husband. 
And  I  heard  a  great  voice  out  of  heaven, 
saying,  Behold,  the  tabernacle  of  God  is  with 
men,  and  he  will  dwell  with  them,  and  they 
shall  be  his  people,  and  God  himself  shall  be 


FUNERAL   SERVICES.  01 

with  them  and  be  their  God.  And  God 
shall  wipe  away  all  tears  from  their  eyes; 
and  there  shall  be  no  more  death,  neither 
sorrow,  nor  crying,  neither  shall  there  be 
any  more  pain  ;  for  the  former  things  are 
passed  away.     Be  v.  xxi.  1-4. 


SELECTIONS 

WHICH    SET    FORTH    THE  DESIGN 


AND    GRACIOUS 


CONSOLATIONS   OF  AFFLICTION. 


Although  affliction  cometh  not  forth  of 
the  dust,  neither  doth  trouble  spring  out  of 
the  ground ;  yet  man  is  born  unto  trouble  as 
the  sparks  fly  upward.     Job  v.  6,  7. 

Before  I  was  afflicted  I  went  astray :  but 
now  have  I  kept  thy  word.  It  is  good  for 
me  that  I  have  been  afflicted  ;  that  I  might 
learn  thy  statutes.  The  law  of  thy  mouth  is 
better  unto  me  than  thousands  of  gold  and 
silver.     Ps.  cxix.  G7,  71,  72. 

Behold,  happy  is  the  man  whom  God  cor- 
recteth  :  therefore  despise  not  thou  the  chas- 


02  MANUAL    OF    FORMS. 

tening  of  the  Almighty.  For  he  maketh 
sore  and  bindetli  up:  he  woundeth  and  his 
hands  make  whole.  He  shall  deliver  thee 
in  six  troubles :  yea,  in  seven  there  shall  no 
evil  touch  thee.     Job  v.  17-19. 

For  the  Lord  will  not  cast  off  for  ever:  but 
though  he  cause  grief,  yet  will  he  have  com- 
passion according  to  the  multitude  of  his 
mercies.  For  he  doth  not  afflict  willingly 
nor  grieve  the  children  of  men.  Lam.  iii. 
31-33. 

My  son,  despise  not  thou  the  chastening  of 
the  Lord,  nor  faint  when  thou  art  rebuked 
of  him  :  for  whom  the  Lord  loveth  he  chas- 
teneth,  and  scourgeth  every  son  whom  he 
receiveth.  If  ye  endure  chastening,  God 
dealeth  with  you  as  with  sons ;  for  what  son 
is  he  whom  the  Father  chasteneth  not  ?  But 
if  ye  be  without  chastisement,  whereof  all  are 
partakers,  then  are  ye  bastards  and  not  sons. 
Furthermore,  we  have  had  fathers  of  our  flesh 
which  corrected  us,  and  we  gave  them  rever- 
ence ;  shall  we  not  much  rather  be  in  subjec- 
tion unto  the  Father  of  spirits  and  live  ?  For 
they  verily  for  a  few  days  chastened  us  after 
their  own  pleasure,  but  he  for  our  profit,  that 
we  might  be  partakers  of  his  holiness.     Now 


FUNERAL   SERVH  I  63 

no  chastening  fbr  the  present  seeineth  to  be 
joyous,  but  grievous :  nevertheless  afterward 

it  yieldeth  the  peaceable  fruit  of  righteons- 
ness  unto  them  which  are  exercised  thereby. 
Wherefore  lift  up  the  hands  which  hang 
down  and  the  feeble  knees.  ...  Ye  are  come 
to  Mount  Sion,  and  unto  the  city  of  the  liv- 
ing God,  the  heavenly  Jerusalem,  and  to  an 
innumerable  company  of  Angels,  to  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly  and  Church  of  the  First  Born 
which  are  written  in  heaven,  and  to  God  the 
Judge  of  all,  and  to  the  spirits  of  just  men 
made  perfect ;  and  to  Jesus  the  Mediator  of 
the  New  Covenant,  and  to  the  blood  of 
sprinkling,  that  speaketh  better  things  than 
that  of  Abel.     Heb.  xii.  5-12,  22-24~ 

For  as  the  sufferings  of  Christ  abound  in 
us,  so  our  consolation  also  aboundeth  by 
Christ.     2  Cor.  i.  5. 

For  our  light  affliction,  which  is  but  for\ 
a  moment,  worketh  for  us  a  far  more  ex- 
ceeding and  eternal  weight  of  glory ;  while 
wre  look  not  at  the  things  which  are  seen,  but 
at  the  things  which  are  not  seen  ;  for  the 
tilings  which  are  seen  are  temporal  ;  but  the 
things  which  are  not  seen  are  eternal.  2  Cor, 
iv.  17,  18. 


64  MANUAL   OF   FOEMS. 

And  not  only  so,  but  we  glory  in  tribu- 
lations also ;  knowing  that  tribulation  work- 
eth  patience,  and  patience  experience,  and 
experience  hope.     Rom.  v.  3,  4. 

My  brethren,  count  it  all  joy  when  ye  fall 
into  diverse  temptations ;  knowing  this,  that 
the  trying  of  your  faith  worketh  patience. 
Blessed  is  the  man  that  endureth  temptation : 
for  when  he  is  tried,  he  shall  receive  the 
crown  of  life,  which  the  Lord  hath  promised 
to  them  that  love  him.     James  i.  2,  3,  12. 

That  the  trial  of  your  faith,  being  much 
more  precious  than  of  gold  that  perisheth, 
though  it  be  tried  with  fire,  might  be  found 
unto  praise  and  honor  and  glory  at  the  ap- 
pearing of  Jesus  Christ.     1  Pet.  i.  7. 

Sing,  O  heavens ;  and  be  joyful,  O  earth, 
and  break  forth  into  singing,  O  mountains  : 
for  the  Lord  hath  comforted  his  people,  and 
will  have  mercy  upon  his  afflicted.  Isa. 
xlix.  13. 

For  a  small  moment  have  I  forsaken  thee, 
but  with  great  mercies  will  I  gather  thee. 
In  a  little  wrath  I  hid  my  face  from  thee  for 
a  moment ;  but  with  everlasting  kindness 
will  I  have  mercy  on  thee,  saith  the  Lord 
thy  Eedeemer.     Isa.  liv.  7,  8. 


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